Clemens Construction – The Hamilton

The Hamilton mixed-use development in Philadelphia targets students and professionals.

By Knighthouse Staff Editor

Clemens Construction is hard at work on the Community College of Philadelphia’s first-ever residential housing development. Construction began in spring 2017 on the Hamilton, a $129 million, 504,000-square-foot mixed-use development on the college’s campus near the city’s Museum District neighborhood. The project consists of two phases, the first being a 10-story building with 290 units that is anticipated to open this fall. The second phase of the project is a 16-story, 210-unit building; work will begin after the completion of the first tower.

The project will also include a 3,300-square-foot ground floor retail space, a community plaza/garden, underground parking and residential amenities including a fitness center, game room, library, communal kitchen and a rooftop deck with views of downtown Philadelphia.

The Hamilton’s studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments will be marketed to students attending the Community College of Philadelphia, as well as young professionals and students of nearby Drexel University’s medicine and nursing schools.

The development is one of the largest ever undertaken by the Community College of Philadelphia, a public, open-admission college that first opened its doors in 1965. The college is looking to attract international students, and needed to offer a residential component to do that, the college says. The project is a public-private partnership between the college and developer, owner and asset manager Radnor Property Group.

Versatility in Action

Clemens Construction offers services to clients in the residential, commercial and institutional sectors. “Our mission is to satisfy each customer through painstaking attention to detail, creative problem-solving and open communication,” the company says. “Though our competitors may exhibit some of these same qualities, our clients work with us time and again because they know they can depend on us to make their visions a reality at the highest level of quality, on time and under budget.”

The company was started in 1979 as a tenant fit-out specialist. “Since then, our commitment to excellence and strong partnerships has made us a renowned expert in complex urban infill projects,” the company adds. “From the new construction of high-rise, mixed-use towers to the re-purposing, major renovation and historic restoration of existing structures, we have become one of the most versatile full-service construction management general contractors in the Northeast.”

Clemens Construction prides itself on the quality and safety of its projects. “A satisfied client is our goal; we will work tirelessly to ensure each customer is proud of the finished product,” it says. “We have access to the highest quality of workmanship using the best union labor. Our management team uses web-based project management software to track every detail of a project, from [requests for information] and submittals to costs and meeting minutes.”

The company employs a dedicated safety director who ensures its work meets its high safety standards. His work includes frequent site inspections as well as ongoing staff training. Clemens’ project managers and superintendents have earned OSHA 30 certifications and the company has earned Pennsylvania’s Safety Committee Certification.

Green building is also a priority for Clemens Construction. “More than a decade ago, we were on the forefront of green building before it became common practice or had any formal certification process,” it says. “Through our commitment to our clients, education, and the environment, we now have several LEED-certified employees on staff, from superintendents all the way to our president. With numerous successful LEED-certified projects to date, we’re here to help clients concerned with environmental impact of their project’s lifecycle.”

Recent Projects

Clemens Construction’s ongoing projects include The Simon, a five-story, 46,000-square-foot apartment building located at 41st and Sansom in Philadelphia, adjacent to the University of Pennsylvania. The company is delivering the building on an aggressive 12-month schedule and is scheduled to finish the project in July.

The Simon building will include 23 one and two-bedroom student apartments and include a community fitness center. The wood-frame building will include a sleek metal panel façade.

The company this summer is expected to complete a 24-story mixed-use tower at the corner of 12th and Market Streets in Philadelphia. The 240-unit tower will include 30,000-square-feet of retail space on its ground floor as well as underground parking.

The building will include luxury studio and one- and two-bedroom apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed concrete ceilings, wood floors, white oak cabinets and high-end fixtures. The third floor amenity level will include a theater room, a green roof and outdoor pool.

Clemens Construction believes in maintaining close relationships with stakeholders on all of its projects.

“When Clemens becomes a part of your team, you don’t just get an individual, you get an organization,” it says. “We partner with our clients, architects and subcontractors to achieve our common goals efficiently and effectively, whatever it takes.”